Effect of zinc substitution on magnetic and electrical properties of nanocrystalline nickel ferrite synthesized by refluxing method

Nanocrystalline Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) and Zn substituted nickel ferrite (NiZnFe2O4) have been synthesized by the refluxing method. These ferrites were characterized by XRD, TEM, Mossbauer spectroscopy and VSM in order to study the effect of zinc substitution in nickel ferrite. XRD diffraction results confirm the spinel structure for the prepared nanocrystalline ferrites with an average crystallite size of 14-16 nm. Lattice parameter was found to increase with the substitution of Zn2+ ions from 8.40 Å to 8.42 Å. TEM images confirmed average particle size of about 20 nm and indicates nanocrystalline nature of the compounds. A shift in isomeric deviation with the doublet was observed due to the influence of Zn substitution in the nickel ferrite. The Zn content has a significant influence on the magnetic behavior and electrical conductivity of NiFe2O4. Saturation magnetization drastically increased whereas room temperature electrical conductivity decreased due to the addition of Zn content in NiFe2O4, indicating super magnetic material with lesser coercivity.